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Notice to all Owners, Masters, Engineer Officers and Crews of Commercially Operated Yachts, Large Private Yachts and Sail Training Vessels and those concerned with Maritime Training.

This notice replaces MIN 684 (M+F) from 1 August 2023.

This MIN expires 31 July 2024.

Introduction

1. In accordance with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Red Ensign Groups Yacht Code[1], it has been agreed with industry that Certificates of Competency will be issued for service as Engineer on commercially operated yachts, large private yachts and sail training vessels. A Merchant Shipping Notice explains the background, application requirements and procedures. Previously outlined in MSN 1859 which has now been withdrawn, and replaced by MSN 1904.

2. From 10th of January 2023 MSN 1904 is in force, which outlines the Small Vessel Engineer Officer certification structure and examination and training. MSN 1859 is withdrawn. You will still be able to revalidate existing Engineering Yacht or Tug restricted Certificates of Competency after this date.

3. Regulation 63 of the 2022 Regulations provide for the Secretary of State (in this case, the MCA) to approve alternative training arrangements, which are equivalent to the STCW Convention requirements (Article IX of the STCW Convention). The MCA has relied on Article IX to adopt and allow for the issue of alternative arrangements to create a certificate structure for engineers working on yachts, tugs, fishing vessels, workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels and government patrol vessels. MSN 1904 contains further information on the application requirements and procedures.

4. The syllabuses are available on the www.gov.uk website.

5. The examinations are administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on behalf of the MCA and are held at their approved examination centres in the United Kingdom, or by special arrangement at approved overseas centres. The examination dates for the academic year commencing 1 September 2023 have been agreed following consultation with various representative organisations of the industry. Annex 1 sets out the pattern of examinations to be held between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2024.

6. Annex 1 describes the scheduled examination dates for:

• Chief Engineer Statutory and Operational Requirements (059-01)

• Applied Marine Engineering (058-01)

• Auxiliary Equipment Part II (059-02)

• General Engineering Science l (058-11)

• General Engineering Science II (058-12)

• Marine Diesel Engineering (060-01)

• Operational Procedures, Basic Hotel Services and Ship Construction (060-02)

• Auxiliary Equipment Part I (060-03)

1. These examinations are also available on demand at the request of a Training Provider providing a minimum of 14 days notice where at least 5 candidates are available for a sitting. Note that does not include GES I and II which will be held on scheduled dates as shown in Annex 1.

2. Annex 2 lists the centres where the examinations administered by the SQA may be taken.

More information

UK Seafarer Services
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/13
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0)203 8172200

Email: deck@mcga.gov.uk or engineering@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

General enquiries: infoline@mcga.gov.uk

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.

Published: August 2023

Crown Copyright 2023

[1] The Red Ensign Groups Yacht Code is underpinned by Statutory Instrument 2016 No. 0353, The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) (Amendment) Regulations 2016. For more information, please refer to: www.redensigngroup.org/publications/. It replaced the Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) detailed in MSN 1792 (or any subsequent amendment).